Svidler Replaces Kramnik In Norway

Vladimir Kramnik has withdrawn from the inaugural Norway Chess 2013 super-tournament to be held from 7-18 May in Stavanger, Norway.

The RCF (Russian Chess Federation) approached the tournament organisers to request that Kramnik be released from his obligation so that he could play in the Tal Memorial instead.

This is slightly odd, since the dates for the two tournaments don't overlap - the Tal Memorial is scheduled for 12-24 June. However, Kramnik is also playing in the new Alekhine Memorial tournament starting soon (20 April - 1 May) and felt it was too strenuous to take on all 3 events.

Besides, Kramnik also reportedly has other promotional commitments during May, and keeping the Russian sponsors happy was clearly a major consideration for the RCF. From Kramnik's point of view, he may also have been happy to avoid playing Veselin Topalov in the Norway tournament.

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Peter Svidler and Vladimir Kramnik at the recent Candidates tournament

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The Norway organisers graciously agreed, accepting the RCF's offer of Peter Svidler as a replacement:

We are sad to inform you that Mr. Kramnik is not playing in Norway Chess, but very happy to inform that Peter Svidler is! We received a nice letter from the Russian chess Federation with polite request if we could let Mr. Kramnik cancel his contract due to his very busy schedule this spring. After receiving Mr. Svidler sporty acceptance, we found no good reason to be difficult. With Mr. Svidler on board, a 6-time winner of the Russian Championship, and he beat Magnus in their last game, we believe the tournament will be one of the best ever. We hope to see Mr. Kramnik in Norway at a later stage.

Peter Svidler is an excellent replacement, but it's still a great shame for Norway that their best laid plans have been disrupted. The revised Norway 2013 line-up and rankings look like this:

Commenti

diogens: Are you asking about Grischuk's time-trouble blunder leading to a lost endgame? It's hard to rationalize such things... Grischuk doesn't make such mistakes usually, but he isn't infallible either. It could be that he subconsciously didn't really mind giving a point to his compatriot if it should come to that, but I don't think it was pre-meditated or pre-arranged.

After all, I'm sure each of these players has a preferred winner, besides themselves... so the question is how much would they resist that in the name of professionalism. Gelfand is on one end of the spectrum, where he sunk both of his friends (Aronian and Kramnik) by beating the former and not losing a worse position against the latter, and claimed that he didn't feel good about it but was professional in his attitude. There may be some who are less strict in that code; Ivanchuk doesn't appear to be among them.

I don't really subscribe to the ideology of gladiators -- each one for himself -- and it's known that many others don't do that either. Kramnik consciously offered help to Vishy Anand in his match against Topalov, and so did many other players, because they felt it was unconscionable to allow someone as polarizing as Topalov to become a WC and an ambassador of chess. Their motives aren't bad or lacking in integrity; they simply seek a higher goal than simply finding out who is best by some objective measure. But that's a long conversation, and likely one that polarizes people too... I don't intend to participate in a polarization of any sort.

@MKCIMICMAN2 Yeah, and you believe that Highest Rating ELO in history come from no prepartion .. PLZ I WANT WASTE TIME WITH CARLSEN FANS.. IF YOU LIKE IT THAT MUCH DON'T DISTURB ME WITH SUCH SUBTILE DISCUSSIONS.

If you look at the individual games between Carlsen, Aronian and Kramnik, they all drew riskless except the last Aronian-Kramnik because the former thought he had to win and took all the risks, beside he had a draw for 3 moves repetition in the middlegame and another draw in the endgame that he didn't blundered but just rejected.

This means the 3 of them, despite their ratings, have great respect for each other and don't overextend but just hold control of the game.

Then you ask yourself, is MG really a +40 player among the mentioned?

He's really OTB because he has gained it. But he knows they are quite paired.

Quoting MC: "my style reminds me Capablanca. I believe only Aronian in good form can play at my level"

IMHO he's right. His style resembles Capablanca. But has also something of Fischer. He rarely gets advantage on the opening, but keeps the game ongoing in a very stubborn fashion until in the endgame, he finds flaws in opps. moves and just outplays them. That's exactly where he gets those +50 among Aronian, Kramnik and other players. Where the latter just draw the game because technically is a draw, he keeps the game ongoing and manages to consolidate what himself calls "practical chances".

I Get a kick that you think Kramnik deserved the chance for the world championship over Carlsen. I did not think his games were any more exiciting as he played for draws.I also think he was better prepared as he claimed that as well where Carlsen claimed he did not even prepare. As we see so far its his talent that has made him one of the highest rated players. I think like Fischer said draws should be taken out of match play as counting just like every other sport or game. Until this happens we will never grow to greatness. I hope Carlsen does prepare for the worlds championship.

I believe that Kramnik may have decided to give Svidler a golden chance now that Svidler is in great form and Kramnik has more than enough to play anyway plus no world championship match in November to prepare for.

Kramnik has often spoken in very warm words about Svidler and praised his work and integrity. Svidler recently spoke about the fact that he had no sponsors, despite being in the top 20 (now top 10) in the world, in contrast to a small number of players who are regulars at the supertournaments. So, Kramnik might have thought, "I don't need extra cash at the moment or extra fame, Svidler is a good friend of mine, he's in good form, I could take a rest (relatively speaking), and if he's successful he could become a regular at these supertournaments, leading to signing up sponsors, which should be good for other chess players ultimately, as sponsors will be more inclined to look outside a small circle of usual suspects."

That sounds like a win-win for all sides, which is the kind of way Kramnik often presents his thinking, from interviews with him that I've read... And a very noble way to act in the world! Hats off, if that's the case.

What is the Russian Chess Federation that it arranges plans for the GMs Kramnik and Svidler and does negotiations on behalf of them? It looks like a slave holder, as if they are not free citizens of their country and are not responsible for themselves. That's a shame.

Well Kramnik knows how to pace himself. This tourney might have an effect on the other players' performance. With karjarkin, Nakamura, Topalov and even Hammer being fresher IMO they might pull a few surprises during the tourney.

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